Post-spray History

Sold to Didier Chable/AMPAA, Melun-Villaroche, in France and registered as F-WQON. Stored at FPL in Fredericton, 2000-2008, as the new owner was unable to retrieve the aircraft.

Sold to Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM), Hamilton, Ontario, 2009. Transported by ground from Fredericton to Hamilton, arriving October 21, 2009.

During the restoration of the former C-GFPR, a U.S. Navy insignia of a cat holding a torpedo was discovered on the fuselage. An image was kindly provided by Jim VanDyk, Chief Engineer of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. It is the Torpcat from VT-5 / VA-6A / VA-55 squadrons, which flew TBMs from about 1943 to 1949.

Now on permanent display as C-GCWG at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. It is still “under restoration to flying condition”. See Aerial Visuals for several images of the restoration.

U.S. Navy torpcat insignia on WQON.

F-WQON at FPL in 19 August 2004.

F-WQON at FPL in September 2005. The French registration is now painted on the side.